Firefighters battle huge blaze in Elbridge

View full sizeDavid Lassman / The Post-StandardA tanker truck gets set up at the scene of house fire on Foster Road in Elbridge.

Elbridge, N.Y. -- Thirteen to 15 fire crews responded late this afternoon to a fire that destroyed a house in Elbridge.

A witness called in the fire at 4948 Foster Road at 5:02 p.m. The flames weren't snuffed out entirely until about 6:30 p.m., and smoke was still billowing long after.

No one was hurt in the fire. The four family members who live there were left homeless, a Red Cross official said at the scene. The house is owned by Bruce M. and Rita J. Ingerson, according to Onondaga County real property records.

This is a total loss," said Robert Chuff, assistant Elbridge fire chief, adding that most of the fire departments were involved to provide tankers because the rural road has no fire hydrants.

Fighting the fire became more difficult because power lines on the left side of the house came down, he said. "We had to be cautious in the back area and go around the power lines," Chuff said.

By about 7 p.m., the roof and second floor had collapsed into the first floor. The left side of the house was gone, along with half of the rear of the house. Chuff said no cause of the fire would be determined this evening.

Fire at 4948 Foster Road in Elbridge Thirteen to 15 fire crews responded late Friday afternoon to a fire that destroyed a house in Elbridge. A witness called in the fire at 4948 Foster Road at 5:02 p.m. The flames weren't snuffed out entirely until about 6:30 p.m., and smoke was still billowing long after. Robert Chuff, assistant Elbridge fire chief, said most of the fire departments were involved to provide tankers because the rural road has no fire hydrants. A Red Cross official at the scene said the fire left four people homeless. It is the fourth such fire in Onondaga County in two days. Video by David Lassman

The witness who called in the fire was wrapped in a Red Cross blanket because, she said, she gave her coat to a woman who escaped from the house wearing a T-shirt.

At the height of the fire, flames could be seen from Route 321, where traffic pulled over to the side of the road to watch.

David Lassman / The Post-StandardA house fire on Foster Road in Elbridge.